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Past and Present of
Winneshiek County, Iowa
Volume II
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WILLIAM H. BURTIS.
William H. Burtis, a prominent and leading citizen of Decorah,
has served as president and manager of the Upper Iowa Power
Company since its organization in 1906. His birth occurred
in Saratoga county, New York, on the 4th of October, 1868,
his parents being William H. and Mary G. (Loper) Burtis,
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who were likewise natives of the Empire state. The father
was a farmer and nurseryman there for a number of years but
at length his health failed and he left the east, taking up
his abode in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1887.
In that year the family removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota,
where the father passed away in 1890. The mother was called
to her final rest in 1902.
William H. Burtis, who was three years of age when taken
by his parents to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, there began his education
and continued it until he had completed the high-school course
in 1887. The following year he entered the University of Minnesota
and was graduated from that institution as a member of the
electrical engineering class of 1892. At that time he embarked
in the electrical contracting business on his own account
in Minneapolis, remaining there until 1896, when he removed
to Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, and became associated with
the Waukon Electric Light Company, assisting in the construction
of its plant. In the fall of the same year, however, he came
to Decorah, Iowa, and erected an electric light plant of which
he, became president and manager. In 1906 he was made president
and manager of the newly organized Upper Iowa Power Company,
which obtained water-power rights upon the upper Iowa river.
This corporation also took over the business of the Waukon
Electric Light Company, both plants being now the property
of the Upper Iowa Power Company, and Mr. Burtis still remains
its chief executive officer. After its organization the Upper
Iowa Power Company built a concrete dam seven miles east of
Decorah, which proved ineffectual and entailed a loss of about
fifty thousand dollars that had to be met by the stockholders.
They had employed what were believed to be competent hydraulic
engineers to design and superintend the construction of the
dam but, like many others within the last decade, found their
judgment erroneous and were obliged to face the consequences.
In 1908 they constructed a larger dam four miles further down
the river and this has proved to be a great success. The Upper
Iowa Power Company has a handsomely equipped office and also
storeroom in the Citizens Bank building at Decorah. The company
furnishes light for the towns of Decorah, Waukon, Postville,
Cresco and Lansing. Mr. Burtis is also vice president and
general manager of the Interstate Power Company, which owns
and operates five light plants in South Dakota. In 1911 and
1912 the Interstate Power Company built another concrete and
steel dam at the site of the wrecked dam, believed to be the
first dam in the United States that has a steam thawing apparatus
on the steel gates and is of the most modern construction
throughout. Mr. Burtis is widely recognized as a man of excellent
executive ability and keen discernment and his success in
the conduct of power plants has proven the efficacy of his
efforts.
On the 10th of May, 1898, Mr. Burtis was joined in wedlock
to Miss Mary L. Stewart, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, her parents
being Scott and Emma (Wilcox) Stewart, the mother a native
of New York, and the father of Indiana. The latter removed
to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, in an early day and was there
engaged in the merchandise business. His demise occurred at
Fergus Falls, in 1899, but his widow is yet living and resides
in Bemidji, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Burtis have five children,
as follows: Florence Elizabeth; Lucille Gertrude, Helen Emma,
Barbara Stewart and Mary Alice. The family residence is an
attractive home at No. 600 Jefferson street, which Mr. Burtis
practically rebuilt. He is a republican in politics, and fraternally
is identified with the Knights of
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Pythias and with his college society, the Chi Psi fraternity.
He stands today as ,one of the alert, wide-awake business
men of Winneshiek county, accomplishing what he undertakes
by his determination, capable management and undaunted energy.
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Among the commercial houses of Decorah there is none that
enjoys a higher reputation than the firm of J. C. Hexom &
Son, general merchants. The senior partner and principal owner,
John C. Hexom, to whose enterprise the flourishing condition
of the business is largely due, is a native son of this county,
being born in Glenwood township on December 9, 1858, his parents
being Christian and Pernille (Gamme) Hexom, natives of Norway.
After the father came to America he located in Wisconsin in
1853, remaining in that state for a short time.
In 1854 he came to Winneshiek county and at the end of a
year made his way to Houston county, Minnesota, but in 1856
returned to this county. Here he entered one hundred and sixty
acres of land, which he cleared, improved and operated until
1887, selling out to good advantage and then removing to Lake
county, South Dakota, where he purchased land near Madison.
He has sold this property and is now living retired. He was
drawn upon for service in the Civil war but, as he had a large
family, considered it his higher duty to remain with and care
for them and provided, at the expense of eight hundred dollars,
another man to take his place. He has now attained the remarkable
age of eighty-five years, being born in August, 1828, but
the mother passed away in February, 1899, in Lake county,
South Dakota.
John C. Hexom was reared at home and educated in the district
schools near the father's farm in Winneshiek county, working
on the home place until he was of age. In 1881 he entered
the employ of C. M. Goddard as clerk, remaining in this capacity
until 1887, when he, in company with a brother, established
a store, carrying men's furnishings, groceries and shoes,
but since the fire which occurred in 1893 the stock has been
confined to shoes and groceries. The partnership continued
until 1896, when John C. Hexom bought out his brother's interest,
conducting the store alone until 1910, when his son, Charles
Philip, became a member of the firm, which is now conducted
under the name of J. C. Hexom & Son. It is on of the largest
establishments of its kind in Decorah, a first-class, complete
line of stock being carried in both branches and the store
enjoying an extensive patronage which assures the firm of
gratifying annual returns. It is largely due to the ability,
industry and circumspection of Mr. Hexom that this establishment
has attained its present proportions and, while it is a gratifying
individual source of income to its owners, it is also largely
a contributing factor to the prosperous commercial conditions
of Decorah. The firm holds membership in the Decorah Commercial
Club.
In February, 1884, Mr. Hexom was married to Miss Julia Swenson,
whose parents were natives of Norway. The father was a pioneer
here, where he began farming operations at an early day and
remained until his death, the mother also having passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Hexom had five children: Charles
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Philip, who is a partner in his father's business and of
whom more extended mention is made in a separate article of
this work; Stella and Edith, at home; Gerhard, who passed
away at the age of seven months; and one who died in infancy.
The family are faithful adherents of the Lutheran religion,
to the local organization of which they give their material
and moral support. In his political affiliations Mr. Hexom
is a republican, taking a citizen's interest in public matters
and being well informed upon all questions that affect the
people and their government. The handsome family residence
is located at No. 606 East Main street and there Mr. and Mrs.
Hexom entertain their many friends, who highly esteem and
honor them for their many good qualities of mind and character.
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 Among
the men of Decorah who have by their own efforts risen from
a comparatively humble position to a place among men of marked
ability and substantial worth in Winneshiek county is numbered
Hon. Lauritz M. Enger, representative of his district in the
state legislature. He is, moreover, classed among the prominent
business men of his city, where he is in control of an important
and growing insurance concern. He was born in Norway, November
3, 1856, and is a son of Magnus and Anna P. (Overby) Enger,
also natives of that country, the former of whom engaged in
farming there during his entire active life and never came
to America. He died in 1877 and was survived by his wife until
1903.
Lauritz M. Enger attended public school in his native country
until he was fifteen years of age, but during the last two
years of this period was obliged to gain his own livelihood.
At the age of fifteen he borrowed enough money to pay his
passage to the United States and afterward worked at farm
labor in order to pay his debt. When this was discharged he
continued at his former occupation, working as a farm hand
during the summer months and attending district school in
the winters. He later became a student at Breckenridge Institute
in Decorah and upon leaving that institution secured a position
as a clerk in a general store in this city, retaining it for
six years thereafter. At the end of that time he rented a
farm but after operating it for two years returned to Decorah,
where he purchased a shoe store, turning his attention to
mercantile pursuits. For nine years he continued to conduct
this enterprise and during a portion of this time was employed
also in the Decorah postoffice as mailing clerk. He then accepted
a position in the office of the Decorah Posten, beginning
in the mailing department and rising until he had full charge
of same and later assisted in the editorial and business departments.
He also did a great deal of illustrating and he remained connected
with the paper for sixteen years, during which time he also
established himself in the insurance business. In this line
of work he has since been active and is now in control of
a large and representative patronage and is numbered among
the substantial business men of the city.
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Mr. Enger was elected to the state legislature in 1910, was
reelected in 1912 and is now serving, his record as a member
of that body being most creditable and honorable. In the thirty-fifth
general assembly he was chairman of the committee on public
health and was a member of the committees on appropriations,
on elections, on printing and constitutional amendments. He
belonged also to the committees on federal relations, on the
conservation of resources and on state educational institutions
and he left the impress of his political ability, his energy
and high standards upon the legislative history of the state.
He still continues active in the conduct of his business interests
in Decorah and these are proving exceedingly profitable, a
fact which indicates his sound judgment and clear business
discernment.
On the 10th of February, 1880, Mr. Enger was united in marriage
to Miss Bertha Myran, a daughter of Ashley and Astri (Nelson)
Myran, natives of Norway. The father came to America in 1849
and located in Muskego, Wisconsin, where he worked in the
lead mines until 1853. He then came as a pioneer to Winneshiek
county, Iowa, and took up government land. He remained, however,
only a short time and then returned to Norway, where his marriage
occurred. In 1855 he returned to Winneshiek county and, having
shot enough deer to pay for forty acres of land, purchased
a tract of this size in Madison township and set about the
work of its improvement and development. He remained active
in agricultural pursuits upon this property during the remainder
of his life, dying in 1894. His wife survived him some years,
passing away in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Enger have become the parents
of three children: Melvin, aged thirty-two, who is a professor
in the University of Illinois; Norval, aged thirty, county
engineer of Grant county, Washington; and Arthur, assistant
engineer at the experiment station of the State University
at Tucson, Arizona. He is an expert on road construction and
travels all over the state in this capacity.
Mr. Enger is a devout member of the Lutheran church and gives
his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a
member of the Norske Selskab Club and the Symra Club and is
well known in social circles at Decorah. He is a man of varied
interests but all are along lines of progress and improvement.
While in business affairs he has achieved a gratifying measure
of prosperity, he has at the same time wrought along lines
of the greatest good to the greatest number, his activities
in political and business fields proving of benefit to the
community at large.
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The name of Hexom has long been prominently connected with
commercial interests of Decorah, and Charles Philip Hexom,
partner in the firm of J. C. Hexom & Son, worthily carries
onward the, family tradition. Born in Decorah, Iowa, in December,
1884, he is a son of John C. and Julia (Swenson) Hexom, of
whom more extended mention is made in another part of this
work. Charles P. Hexom was reared amid the surroundings of
a well-to-do home and received the advantages of a thorough
education. He graduated in 1904, from the
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Decorah high school, and prior to this attended Luther College
for three years. After his graduation he went to Chicago and
attended the Chicago Art Institute for one year and also spent
one term in the Chicago Academy of I Fine Arts. After this
he returned to Decorah for a short time but then removed to
Spokane, Washington, where for one year he was engaged in
commercial art work. Returning home, he became a partner in
his father's business, the firm name becoming J. C. Hexom
& Son. He furnishes the youngest element in the firm.
A young man of decided ability and pleasing address, he is
popular with his patrons and the later success of the firm
must to a large extent be ascribed to the able assistance
he gives his father. Prior to going to Spokane Mr. Hexom also
taught drawing for one year in the preparatory classes of
his old school, the Luther College. He is now interested in
commercial art in addition to his regular business.
On September 28, 1910, Mr. Hexom was united in marriage to
Miss Clarissa D. Holm, a daughter of O. W. and Julia (Hoffos)
Holm, natives of Norway, who came to Decorah at an early day
in the history of this city. Mr. Holm is now in the employ
of the Lutheran Publishing Company.
Public-spirited and progressive, Mr. Hexom has become an
adherent of the progressive party, in the realization of the
ideals of which he sees the fulfillment of a government for,
by, and of the people. Religiously he is a Lutheran, being
connected with the First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church,
in the work of which and its allied societies he takes a warm
interest. An indication of his recreation is given in the
fact that he is a member of the Decorah Rod & Gun Club
and the Decorah Gymnasium Club, believing in physical exercise
in order to keep body and mind in condition for strenuous
business duties. The family residence is at No. 606 East Main
street, Decorah, and there Mr. and Mrs. Hexom are often the
center of the younger social set of the city, in which they
are popular.
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 A
foremost representative of commercial and financial interests
of Decorah and Winneshiek county is Lewis B. Whitney, who
in 1897 helped to establish the National Bank of Decatur,
of which institution he has served as president ever since.
Born in Jefferson county, New York, on March 29, 1855, he
is a son of Brayton and Martha M. (Rockwood) Whitney, natives
of New York. The father was for many years a sailor on the
Great Lakes, his run being from Oswego to Chicago, at a time
when that city was yet Fort Dearborn. He subsequently moved
to Wisconsin and there successfully operated a farm until
1861, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war with Company
B, Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteers, being afterward transferred
to the Sixteenth Ohio Battery, with which he served until
the close of the war. At the cessation of hostilities he returned
to Wisconsin and there again followed agricultural pursuits
'until" 1867, when he removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa,
where he farmed until his death, which occurred in August,
1892. His wife survived him until December, 1896.
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Lewis B. Whitney was twelve years of age when his parents
removed to Winneshiek county and received his education in
the public schools of the neighborhood and in the Owatonna
(Minnesota) high school, from which he was graduated with
the class of 1874. Reared amid agricultural environments he
decided to take up farming and engaged in that occupation
here and in North Dakota until 1883, in which year he became
a partner of A. J. Cratsenberg in the mercantile business
at Burr Oak, this county, being thus engaged until 1893, when
he was elected to the important position of county treasurer
and served as such with great credit to himself and to the
satisfaction of his constituents for four years. In 1897 Mr.
Whitney and several other gentlemen organized the National
Bank of Decorah with a capital of fifty thousand dollars,
Mr. Whitney becoming president, O. C. Johnson, vice president,
and H. C. Hjerleid, cashier. Mr. Whitney has served as executive
officer of the organization ever since and its prosperous
condition is largely due to his efforts.
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December 17, 1882, Mr. Whitney was united in marriage to Miss
Ella L. Cratsenberg, a daughter, of A. J. and Julia M. (Phelps)
Cratsenberg, natives of New York. The father upon coming to
Winneshiek county located in Burr Oak where he successfully
engaged in the mercantile business until his retirement in
1904. The mother died in 1900. The father upon giving up active
business moved to Decorah and made his home with our subject
until his demise in 1909. He was a veteran of the Civil war
and served with distinction with a New York company. A man
of keen foresight and ability, Mr. Whitney has become one
of the substantial men of the community and besides his important
banking interests is a stockholder, director and the treasurer
of the Decorah Gas Company and a director of the Winneshiek
Hotel Company. Taking a deep interest in political matters,
he has served on the republican state central committee and
for the past four years has been secretary of that organization.
He owns a beautiful home at No. 300 Grove street where he
and his wife extend warm-hearted hospitality to their many
friends. Fraternally he is connected with a number of orders,
being a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks
and the Knights of Pythias. It is to such enterprising and
aggressive men as Mr. Whitney that the rapid development of
Winneshiek county and Decorah is due, and while his individual
success is important, his real value in the upbuilding of
this section is of more paramount interest and worthy of greater
commendation.
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